2013 Oscars: Get to know the best actor nominees

Updated 12:12 PM ET, Wed February 20, 2013

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Bradley Cooper, 2002 – Soon after guest starring on a 1999 episode of HBO's "Sex and the City," Bradley Cooper appeared in films such as 2001's "Wet Hot American Summer," 2005's "Wedding Crashers" and 2006's "Failure to Launch." "Alias" fans might recognize him as Will Tippin, one of Sydney Bristow's (Jennifer Garner) best friends on the ABC series.

Bradley Cooper, 2013 – Cooper's role as Pat in "Silver Linings Playbook" earned him his first Oscar nomination. He'll soon appear in "The Hangover Part III" and "Serena," along with his "Playbook" co-star Jennifer Lawrence.

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Joaquin Phoenix, 2000 – Joaquin Phoenix, who used to go by the name Leaf, has been acting for more than 30 years. Phoenix, pictured here at an event in New York City in 2000, gained critical acclaim for his role as Commodus in "Gladiator" that same year. He received an Oscar nod for best supporting actor, but lost the statue to Benicio del Toro ("Traffic").

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Joaquin Phoenix, 2009 – The actor, 38, shown here in his "I'm Still Here" phase attending a screening of "Two Lovers" in 2009, earned his second Academy Award nomination for his portrayal of Johnny Cash in 2005's "Walk the Line."

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Joaquin Phoenix, 2013 – Phoenix is nominated for best actor once again for his role in Paul Thomas Anderson's "The Master."

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Denzel Washington, 1999 – Denzel Washington's latest role as Whip Whitaker in "Flight" earned the two-time Academy Award winner his sixth Oscar nod to date. Washington, pictured with his wife Paulette in 1999, has been acting since the mid-1970s.

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Denzel Washington, 2004 – Washington is shown here at the 2004 premiere of "The Manchurian Candidate." He's best known for films such as "Malcolm X," "American Gangster," "Training Day" and "Man on Fire."

Daniel Day-Lewis, 2003 – "Lincoln" marks Daniel Day-Lewis' fifth Academy Award nomination. The actor, who has won the Oscar for best actor twice before ("My Left Foot" in 1989 and "There Will Be Blood" in 2007) is pictured here at the 2003 Golden Globe Awards.

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Daniel Day-Lewis, 2008 – Day-Lewis, 55, is known for his method acting. Shown here at the 2008 Academy Awards, the actor has starred in film such as "The Last of the Mohicans," "The Crucible" and "Gangs of New York."

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Daniel Day-Lewis, 2013 – Prior to his role in "Lincoln," Day-Lewis appeared as Guido Contini in Rob Marshall's "Nine," which hit theaters in 2009.

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Hugh Jackman, 1999 – Hugh Jackman is known for playing Wolverine in the "X-Men" franchise. The actor, pictured here at the 1999 Noosa Flim Festival, has played the comic book character in movies spanning 13 years, beginning with 2000's "X-Men."

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Hugh Jackman, 2008 – Jackman, 44, shown here at the "Australia" premiere in 2008, has also appeared in films such as "Kate & Leopold," "The Prestige" and "Real Steel."

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Hugh Jackman, 2013 – The actor earned his first Oscar nod thanks to his role as Jean Valjean in "Les Misérables."